US Claims 140 Iranian Targets Struck, Trump Says Strait Remains “Open”
The United States struck 140 Iranian military targets, including missile and drone sites, in the Strait of Hormuz region on Saturday, according to U.S. Central Command. President Donald Trump confirmed the attacks in a Sunday morning interview, stating, “We bombed the hell out of them last night,” and asserting that the strait was “open as far as we’re concerned.” The strike followed an Iranian drone attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the waterway, which caused “significant engine room damage,” as reported by the U.S. military. Iran, however, declared the strait “closed,” contradicting U.S. claims and escalating tensions in the region.
Iran Denies US Claims, Asserts Control Over Strait
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a government agency, declared the strait “closed” after the drone strike on the container ship, according to state media. Meanwhile, Iran retaliated by launching attacks on multiple Gulf nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Oman, as reported by regional news outlets. The strikes raised concerns about the stability of the strait, a critical global oil and gas transit route. U.S. officials emphasized that the strait remained “open to all vessels seeking to lawfully transit the international waterway,” but Iran’s stance has cast doubt on the situation’s trajectory.
For more on this story, see US Launches Airstrikes on Iran as Tehran Targets Gulf States.
Negotiations in Oman Amid Escalating Tensions
Despite the hostilities, U.S. and Iranian officials have continued diplomatic efforts. Senior U.S. officials revealed that Iranian representatives privately admitted to a “mistake” in targeting commercial ships, attributing the attacks to an “errant” faction of hardliners seeking to derail peace talks. The Trump administration is pressing Iran to publicly acknowledge the error and commit to opening the strait to trade without tolls. Negotiations, scheduled to take place in Oman, aim to resolve the conflict, but U.S. officials warned that further Iranian aggression could trigger stronger retaliation. “If that is not their position, it’s not going to be a great day for them,” one official said, referencing Iran’s potential failure to comply with U.S. demands.
This follows our earlier report, Iran Attacks Gulf Nations and Closes Strait of Hormuz: Key Updates.
Oil Markets and Regional Fallout
The conflict has intensified scrutiny of the strait’s impact on global energy markets. U.S. The current standoff risks further disruptions, with regional nations like Oman and Qatar reporting intercepted Iranian missile attacks.
Humanitarian and Strategic Concerns
A Cyprus-flagged ship attacked by Iran had 23 crew members rescued, with one missing, including an Indian national, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Oman’s maritime authority confirmed the rescue operation, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed the ship “disregarded warnings” to follow an approved route. Meanwhile, regional countries reported missile alerts and shrapnel injuries, with Qatar’s Interior Ministry noting three casualties, including a child. The U.S. has also warned of potential strikes against Iran if Tehran targets the president, with Trump stating on Friday that military preparations are in place for such scenarios. As the 60-day interim deal between the U.S. and Iran nears its midpoint, the situation remains precarious, with both sides vying for strategic advantage in a critical global chokepoint.
Read also: Iran Launches Major Missile Strikes Across the Gulf.
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